As we close out the 6th month of this insane year we call 2020. I’m looking back at trips I’ve been on in the past as travel for this year seems to be out of the questions. Thinking about our time in Italy as a family brings back a lot of really good memories. Continue reading below for more.
Exploring Florence and Rome:
Visiting Italy, I knew it was important for us to spend time in two major cities and Florence and Rome were at the top of the list. Although I wanted to get to Pisa and Venice, there was too much to do in Rome and Florence to stretch out trip thin. Thinking about our time in Italy and how I wanted to savor every moment, I’m now inspired to return but to explore the city of Florence at a slower pace with the family, taking day-trips to Pisa and Venice.
Train travel in Italy is essential. Especially the regional trains, used for travel between Florence and Rome. Be sure to book your ticket online or in-person with https://www.trenitalia.com/
Also check out a previous blog post of mine on train travel in Italy. https://www.kjaroundtheworld.com/navigating-italy-regional-train-travel/
Enjoying the Food of Florence:
Hope we replicate this at home.
What is a trip to Italy if you’re not enjoying amazing food. From learning to make pizza to eating at Michelin Star restaurants, you’re surrounded by food in Italy. The excitement of doing a cooking class with my children was something I was looking forward to before we even arrived to Italy. Watching the looks on my children’s faces as they learned new skills and enjoyed amazing, quality food is something I will never forget. Although Florence is known for it’s rare Florentine Steak, I wanted to enjoy nothing but seafood while I was there. My children enjoyed the pasta, especially the cacio e pepe.
Dreaming of Campo Di Marte:
If there is one thing I remember the most about visiting Italy, it has to be the time spent in Campo di Marte. This is a small neighborhood on the outskirts of Florence known for sports and entertainment. This neighborhood was so relaxing and quiet compared to the bustle of the city-center. We spent time a lot of time walking around Campo di Marte, there were so many cafe’s and little flower shops giving this area a really lovely community feel. There were lots of lovely places to eat as well. Amazing family-owned restaurants that made you feel like you were a part of the family when you ate there. We also spent our mornings and afternoons taking the train one stop from Campo di Marte to Firenze station, these are things I continue to remember most about our time in Italy.
We Didn’t Just Eat, I Promise:
It may seem as though we did nothing but eat during our trip to Florence but we did so much more, including visiting the central sites of Florence. We took local transportation and headed up to Piazza le Michelangelo to get a view of the city. We visited the Uffizi museum and found beautiful art we had only seen in textbooks. I remembered seeing painting after painting, thinking back to my college years and art history courses. It’s very different seeing these paintings up close and in person compared to seeing them on pages.
When In Rome?:
The saying goes “when in Rome, do what the Roman’s do”, I can say we might not have done what the modern day Romans do but we certainly enjoyed a lot of Ancient Roman sites. Looking back on our family trip, I can remember so many elements of the city, like the crowds, the designer shops, the Disney store we tried to hide from the kids, the water fountains and the heat. I can also remember the food, my first time ever “enjoying” ravioli. Rome was a different pace than Florence for sure with a lot more tourists, but it certainly lives up to it’s reputation as being a city with Ancient Roots but a modern economy.
So Much to See, Eat and Do, But So Little Time:
We did so much in Rome, I have to say this part of our trip happened really fast. We took the metro into the city-center daily to see the Ancient sites. In all honesty nothing compares to seeing these places in person. The best part was sharing the experience with my family. Growing up, children read about these things in books. It’s great as a parent to give them an opportunity to see these things in person. Although the children may not remember the entire trip, We certainly have the photos and videos to remind us.
Remembering the Ups and Downs of Travel With Family:
Travel with family is never easy. There’s so many different personalities you have to deal with along with expectations and needs. But with the excitement of travel, there’s also opportunities for misunderstandings and tantrums and we certainly had many of those on this trip. I can certainly say with confidence though throughout the entire trip, my step-daughter saved the day with her amazing Italian skills.
Why I Can’t Wait to Head Back:
With everything that has been going on the past 4 months, I am reminded of how appreciative I am of life and all the opportunities and adventures I’ve had. I’ve been able to travel with my family which is something most people only dream about. With that in mind I’ve been remember our family trip to Italy. Even with all the good and bad moments, I look back on this trip with happy thoughts. In all honesty, I really miss Florence most of all. I had the best experience there. It’s certainly a place I plan to visit again, with my family but also solo, for a slow travel experience. Being in the small neighborhood of Camp di Marte in Florence rather than the city central made me want to do even more exploring. There’s so much we didn’t see or do and it’s been calling me back ever since we left.
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